Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-04-03
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
John W.. Nichols, Of Omaha, Relates Some
Little Known History.

his career from 1862 to 1865, and particu-
larly the history of the assassination. 1t
is not generally known that more than one
attempt upon Lineoln's life was made in
Washington, but such is the fact
Mr.. Nichols, statement interested me
somewhat and l asked him to explain.
He then went on and told me substantially
the following story: In August, 1867,
Company X, 105th Pennsylvania Voiun-
teers, of which Mr.. Nichols was q member,
was detailed as body guard OF President
Lincoln. Up to 1854, owing TO the vlgi-
lance of the guards, Mr.. Lincoln escaped
all attempts at violence Inc PACK OF the
Confederacy was broken, a good teeilng
pervaded all Washington, and vigilance
was considerably relaxed. 1t was then
conspiracies were Matched and Conleder-
ates ran the city unmolested. The Presl-
dent and his family spent the summer
months at the Soldiers Home, about three
miles north of the city, whittier the body
guard accompanied them. 1t was the Gus
| ON of the President to remain late at the
War Department and after his work was
concluded he would ride on horseback out
to the home. That summer he had per-
~sistently refused an escort, imagining him.
self perfectly secure
One night about the middle of August
Mr.. Nichols was doing sentinel duty at
the large gate to the grounds OF the nome.
| About IL O'Clock he heard ride shot, ana
shortly afterward Mr.. Lincoln dashed up to
the gate on horseback. The President was
b~areheaded, and as he dismOunted he said,
r~eferringto his horse: "He came pretty
near getting away with Inc, didn't he? He
cot the hit in his teeth before | could draw
the REIN" Mr.. Nichols asked him where
his hat was, and he replied that somebody
had fired a gun off at the loot OF the hill,
and that his horse had become scared and
ierked his hat off.
Thinking the affair rather strange, y
said Mr.. Nichols, "a corporal and myself
went down the hill to make an investiga-
ton. At the intersection of the driveway
and main road, we found the presidents
hat-a plain silk one-and upon eXsmin-
Ing it we discovered a bullet hole through
the crown. The shot had been fired up
ward, and it was evident that the person
who fired the shot had secreted himself
close by the roadside. The next day /
gave Mr.. Lincoln his hat and called his
attention to the bullet hole. He remarked
rather uncOncernedly that it was put there
by some foolish gunner and was not in
tended for him. He said, however, that
he wanted the matter kept quiet, and adj
monished us to say nothing about it. We
felt confident 4hat it was an attempt to
kill him, and u well nigh successful one,
too. The affair was, of course kept quiet
in compliance with the presidents request.
After that the president never rode alone. y
Mr.. Nichols then went on to relate the
circumstances Of a kidnapping conspiracy
which was attempted to be carried out the
next fall. This plan was unknOwlngly
frustrated by tue body guard, whose quar-
tiers were Immediately in front of the south
porch of the executive mansion, equi-dis-
tant between that building and the treas
ury, state. war and navy departments,
Just to the east of the quarters was the
guard tent, where a portion of the body
guard remained on duty. For reasons
then unknown To the guard the tent was
moved to the west end of the gravel
walk, in the rear of the Wa Department.
Shortly aiterward it was learned by the
guard that on the very night the tent was
moved a plan mad been laid to capture the
President rs he should pass along the walk
and carry him to the house OF II Green, a
notorious rebel, on the bank of the POtO-
mac, back of the White House grounds,
and thence, when the opportunity offered,
he was to he carried to Richmond and held
as q hostage. 1t was always believed that
Il Al. ,,,,,4v 90 49,. ..,arI font IN tho NuaGf
end of the walk frightened the conspiratOrs
and thwarted their design.
At another time, not long after this in
cldent, BOurke, the veteran cOachman, who
had served through two administrations at
the White House, was taken sick. \
stranger from Baltimore applied for the
place and succeeded in securing it during
| the absence of BOurke. He did not hold
the place very long, however, a. he be-
camc SO ~domineeriGg and important that
he was intOlerable. Bourke was reinstated.
One night, not long after be had been dis
missed, the discharged cOachman was dis
covered sneaking about the stables, which
were son observed TO he on fire. The
whole guard was called out aud by great
eNertiOnS saved the presidential coach and
team, but Tad hincOln's pony and Col.
Hays carriage team persisted. 1t was be-
lieved that a plan had been formed for this
man to fire the stables, and during the eN
citemeat conspirators weret to rush into the
White House and murder the President.
Mr.. Lincoln. however, rushed out with
the rest 10 the scene of the fire and thus
frustrated any attempt ut assassination.
What made this appear more evident, y
| said Mr.. Nicholas, was the fact that after
the ~incendiary wa arrested he produced
several witnesses who were employed at
FOrd's theatre and who testified that he
the discharged cOachmanI was down in
the city during the whole evening Oh
which the lire occurred. These were the
persons who, in my opinion, laid the final
conspiracy that brought Abraham Lincoln
to his grave" ALFRED SORENsON.